As North Korean soldiers shiver in tattered uniforms, authorities are seizing expensive dog fur coats from civilians—claiming they resemble military attire.
BY PC Bureau
North Korean authorities have begun seizing winter coats lined with dog fur—considered a luxury item—from civilians and redistributing them to soldiers facing severe shortages, residents told Radio Free Asia (RFA).
The campaign, which began last month, appears to serve a dual purpose: providing warm clothing for the military during North Korea’s harsh winter and preventing civilians from wearing coats resembling military uniforms.
“Social security agents are stopping men on the streets and confiscating their dog fur coats on the spot,” a resident of South Pyongan province, north of Pyongyang, told RFA Korean. “It’s the first time they’ve done this.”
Authorities claim civilians should not wear clothing that mimics military attire, but the coats have long been popular among the wealthy for their warmth and association with power.
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A Status Symbol Few Can Afford
Dog fur-lined coats are among the most expensive winter garments available in North Korea, with high-quality versions selling for up to 1 million won (approximately $50)—more than the average annual salary for many government workers.
“They are the best winter clothing because the entire inner layer is lined with dog skin and fur,” the resident explained. “Only the wealthy can afford them, such as merchants or the husbands of affluent women.”
A Military in Crisis
North Korea’s nearly one-million-strong military has faced chronic shortages for decades, particularly since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, which cut off crucial economic aid.
Soldiers are supposed to receive new summer uniforms annually and winter uniforms every two years, but supplies are inconsistent. The situation has grown so dire that discharged soldiers are now required to return their uniforms so they can be reissued to others.
With military personnel suffering in the cold, authorities see civilians wearing warm dog fur-lined coats as an unacceptable display of privilege.
“In Unsan city, only about one in 50 men wears a dog fur coat,” the resident said. “I’ve mostly seen them on merchants traveling for business and the husbands of wealthy women.”
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Coats Redirected to Border Troops
In North Pyongan province, authorities have cracked down on the coats, confronting wearers with accusations of selfishness.
“They ask civilians how they can wear such luxury while frontline soldiers shiver in tattered, second-hand uniforms,” another resident told RFA.
Confiscated coats are reportedly being given to officers and soldiers stationed at border posts near South Korea, where winter conditions are especially brutal.
“Soldiers have to participate in winter training, lying on frozen ground for long hours,” the resident said. “These coats are essential for them.”
While some men have objected to having their coats taken, they know better than to push back too hard.
“Some protest, but they stay quiet in the end,” the resident said. “No one wants to be punished for speaking out.”
